Microscope



Nov. 14, 1950 B. G. GALLASCH MICROSCOPE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 18, 1946 5.0. GALLASCH ISnoentor attorney Nov. 14, 1950 Filed Oct. 18, 1946 B- G. GALLASCH MICROSCOPE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 B.G.GALLASCH 3nventor Gttorneg Nov. 14, 1950 B. e. GALLASCH 2,530,352

MICROSCOPE Filed Oct. 18, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet s "w" iwl B. G. GAL LASC H 3nnentor (lttorneg Patented Nov. 14, 1950 MICROSCOPE Bernhardt George Gallasch, Rochester, N. Y., as-

signor to Bausch & Lomb Optical Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 18, 1946, Serial No. 704,209

7 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to microscopes and has for its chief'object theprovision of an instrument which is relatively simple in structure yet efilcient in operation. A further object is to provide a microscope of the binocular type which may be readily converted to the monocular type.

.Another object is to provide a microscope in which the parts are arranged so as to afford a maximum of convenience and comfort to the user. A further object is to provide means for selectively locking a movable slide on a microscope stand.

These and other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts as will here- I inafter be more fully explained and pointed out in the appended claims.

With reference to the drawings: Fig l is a general perspective view of a microscope embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof with I parts in elevation,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-- 3 or Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a-hori2ontal cross sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of 2,

Fig.5 is an optical diagram of the ocular and objective members, and Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

L Among the novel features of the present invention is the rigid unitary stand designated generally by the numeral ID in Figs. 1 and 2 com- The chamber I3 is composed of a longitudinal 1 portion I4 extending along the arm I2 at its upjlper end and opening into an open-ended crosswise portion I extending angularly upward from jphamber I4. videdwith a removable bottom wall or plate I5 "having a threaded opening I! and is fixed to "the hollow arm I2 in any suitable manner such f'jas by the screws I8.

I 1 Optical means supported by the stationary arm I2 are provided for forming an enlarged image of a specimen under examination comprising an objective I9 and binocular eyepieces 2| and 22. 'I'he objective may be of the multiple'type as il- Longitudinal chamber I4 is prolustrated and is supported from the plate I6 by means of the threaded tube 23 integral with an inclined position in any suitable manner such as the dovetailed connection 24 suggested in the patent to W. L. Patterson No. 1,862,031. An inclination prism 25, held by suitable means such as a clamping screw 26 in a prism holder 2'1, is located in the longitudinal chamber I4 in optical alignment with the objective I9 to reflect the light rays therefrom angularly toward the eyepieces 2I and 22. Reflecting prisms 28, 29, and 30 of Fig. 5, housed in the crosswise chamber I5 direct the light rays from the inclination prism 25 into the binocular eyepieces 2| and 22. In the bottom surface of the prism holder 21 an opening 3| .is provided concentric with opening I1 to permit light rays to pass therethrough from the objective I9.

In order to convert the instrument from binocular to monocular vision, the prism 25 is slidably mounted to move along the dovetailed guideway 32 which cooperates with the slide 33 carried by prism holder 21. Mechanism for moving the prism holder 2'! comprise an extended side flange 34 on holder 21 which has a vertical slot 35 therein engaged by a pin 36 fixed to a crank 31. A

' shaft 38 fixed at its inner end to the crank 31 is journaled at 38 in the frame member I2 and a knob 39 is fixed on the outer end thereof to turn the crank 31. Stops 40 and M on the crank 31 limit its rotary motion in both directions of rotation. The top wall of chamber I4 is provided with a threaded opening 42 which is closed by the plug 43 when the instrument is used for binocular vision. When used for monocular vision, the prism 25 is moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 so that light rays may pass directly upward from the objective I9 and into a suitable monocular eyepiece which is secured in opening 42 after removal of plug 43.

A vertically adjustable stage 44 on which a speciinen may be mounted for examination over a central opening 45 substantially on the optical axis of the instrument is slidably supported by a rigid bracket 46 on a pair of vertical guideways 41 and 48. The sole adjusting and supporting means for the stage are supplied in the form of interdependent adjustment mechanism comprising a coarse adjustment mechanism attached to the stage 44 and a fine adjustment mechanism on which the coarse adjustment mechanism rests. The fine adjustment mechanism includes a block 49 anchored by suitable means such as screws 5!! to the inner surface of the frame arm I2. A fine adjustment screw 5| journaled in the closed ends of a sleeve 52, which is solidly held in the 101 49,. liaison-1st $3 threaded thereon, the exterior of the nut fitting within a slot 54 in sleeve 52 to prevent its rotation. The nut has a radial transverse surface 55 projecting therefrom which is moved. axially along the screw shaft 5| when the shaft is rotated by a knob 55 fixed on the outer end thereof. Pivotally mounted on the block 49 is a bell crank lever 58, the vertical arm of which is in contact with the radial surface 55 of nut 53 so as to provide an operative engagement with the adjusting screw 5!. Near the end of a laterally extending arm 59 on the bell crank lever 58 a vertically positioned pin 60, having a bearing point at each end, is seated in a small depression 6|. The upper end of the pin is seated in a conical depression 62 located on the under surface of a load block 63 which is fixed by suitable means such as screws 64 to a bearing plate 65. The plate 55 is vertically guided for motion within the frame it by V grooves 66 and 61 extending along the side surfaces of the plate and free action therein is assured by providing bearing balls 63 as an anti-friction means between the grooves 55 and 67? of the plate 65 and similar grooves 69 and it on the inner surfacesof the frame arm 12.

'A compression spring H seated at its ends in recesseslfi and 72" urges th coarse adjustment assembly downward upon the pin 60 so that the bell crank connection is in firm contact with the nut surface 55. On the front side of the bearing plate 65, a V slide 13 is attached in any desired manner such as by screws l4 and a stage slide fitting the V slide :13 is preferably directly connected with the stage bracket 45 by suitable means such as screws iii. 13 and '15 are closely held in contact with a sliding fit therebetween by a retainer plate ll fixed to the slide 75 by suitable means such as screws 18. The overhanging parts of the retainer plate "H slidably engage in mating grooves l9 and 19' in the slide 13. For the coarse adjustment of the stage, the slide 75 is moved on slide 13. by means of a pinion Bil secured to shaft 8! journaled in the slide 13 and adapted to be rotated by knobs 84 and 85, Fig. 4. The pinion engages rack 86 attached to slide 15 so that rotation of the shaft 8] will move the slide i5.

In order to substantially relieve the stage adjustment mechanism of the weight of the stage and its load, a spring 81, under a tension tending' to raise the stage, has its upper end secured to the frame member I2 at 88 and its lower end secured to the stage 44 at 8%).

The stage 44 may be selectively locked in position by means of a sleeve 90 which is positioned coaxially of shaft 8! and is exteriorly threaded to coact with a threaded portion on slide 1-3. The inner end of the sleeve 9|] is in proximity to the end of pinion 86 while the outer end extends beyond the arm i2 and carries the actuating means in the form of pin 92 whereby the sleeve may be rotated. To lock the stage, the sleeve 95 is turned so that the inner end thereof engages the side of pinion 33 and urges the latter against the face 93 on slide 13. The stage may be released by turning or unscrewing the sleeve 90 so that its inner end disengages the pinion 80.

Means for illuminating the specimen under suitable lamp -9'! adjustably mounted therein, the light therefrom being deflected upwardly The slides I by a reflector 98 fixed to a closure member 99 which is attached to the end of the tube 96 by suitable means such as screws I00. Light rays leaving the reflector 98 are projected upwardly through the collective lens IOI secured in the closure member 99 substantially on the optical axis of the microscope' Proper optical alignment of the lens IUI on the optical axis of the microscope is assured by forming a radial flange I02 at the rear of the tube 96 so that when the fiange is clamped against the frame Hi, the lens lfll is correctly located in all directions. A pin E02 anchored in the flange I02 and slidably received in the frame It! prevents the tube 96 from rotating so as to position the lens ml with respect to the optical axis.

Optical means for condensing the light rays emanating from the collective lens IM and directing said rays upon the specimen through the opening 45 are provided by a condenser having suitable lenses therein and generally designated by the numeral I03. The condenser [03 is supported by a bracket I05 which is slidably mounted on the rear side of an upright apron I06 which extends across the front of the stage 44 in a dependent position and is secured thereto by the integral horizontal lugs I01 and I08, Fig. 6, through which the screws I09 extend. Apron 156 extends below the level of the lens l0! sufficiently to shelter the eyes of the operator from direct light rays emanating therefrom. The sliding connection between the bracket I05 and the apron IE6 is supplied by dovetailed guideways H0 and III on the bracket and apron, respectively, as best illustrated in Fig. 6. Relative movement between the bracket and apron guideways Ill] and III for raising and lowering of the condenser IE3 is accomplished by the usual rack and pinion connection H2 with the pinion adapted for rotation by the knob H3 through the pinion shaft I I4.

When it is desired to convert the microscope from binocular to monocular vision for photornicrographic purposes or otherwise, the knob 39 is rotated in the direction of the arrow a whereupon the crank 31 is swung counterclockwise in Fig. 2 taking the inclination prism 25 with it into the position shown by the dotted lines H5. The screw plug 43 is subsequently removed to permit insertion of any desired monocular optical device such as a camera or eyepiece.

Since the eyepieces and objectives are not mounted for vertical adjustment, the focusing adjustments are effected by moving the stage .4 which carries the object under examination. The adjusting mechanisms are mounted in the hollow stand so that only the substage adjusting means is adjacent the operator and consequently unimpeded access is afforded to the specimen on the stage. The counterbalancing spring 81 tends to raise the stage 44 so that the latter may thereby be adjusted easily and smoothly in either direction. As the substage condenser is adjustably carried by the stage, the adjusting knob l is is located directly in front of the operator and hence affords great convenience in operation. The illuminating means is built into the stand so that a compact, unitary instrument is thereby provided. The depending apron I06 not only supports the substage condenser but also acts as a shield to prevent stray light rays from passing up towards the eyes of the operator. The stand 52 may be formed of a single, unitary 5 hollow casting since no inclinationjoint is embodied in the structure.

It will be apparent that I have attained the objects of my invention by providing a microscope which is efficient in operation yet relatively simple in construction so that it may be manufactured at a relatively low cost. Various modifications can obviously be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a microscope, a stand having an overhanging portion, anv optical system mounted on said portion, a stage projecting forwardly from and movably mounted on the stand for holding a specimen in alignment with the optical system, means for adjustably moving the stage to bring the specimeninto focus, said optical system including eyepiece means having an optical axis which is inclined away from the stand and extends above the front edge of the stage, and means for illuminating a specimen on the stage comprising support means depending from the front edge of the stage, condensing lens means slidably mounted on the support means, a light source in optical alignment with the condensing lens means and a light shield depending from the front of the stage to shield the users eyes from extraneous light from the source.

2: In a microscope having a stand, optical means carried by the stand, stage means carried by the stand for holding a specimen to be observed through the optical means, one of said means being movable relative to the other means for focusing, and mechanism for moving the movable means including a rack cooperating with a pinion fixed to a shaft, said shaft being rotatably mounted in a bore in the stand, the combination of a sleeve rotatably mounted on the shaft and positioned coaxially therewith, the inner end of the sleeve being positioned adjacent to an end face of said pinion, the other end face of the pinion abutting the stand, the other end of the sleeve projecting outwardly from the stand and having a finger engaging portion, said 45 bore being threaded, said sleeve being in threaded engagement with the bore whereby the inner end of the sleeve may be selectively brought into locking engagement with an end face of the pinion by rotation of the sleeve.

3. A microscope comprising a stand, optical means carried by and forwardly of said stand for forming an enlarged image of a specimen, a movable stage supported by, and extending forwardly from its point of support on the stand and having an opening over which the specimen is placed for examination, means including guideways on said stand for slidably mounting said stage thereon, adjustment mechanism for moving the stage vertically to bring the specimen into focus, support means carried solely by said stage and depending from the front edge thereof, the front edge of the stage being remote from the stand, condensing lens means for condensing light rays onto said specimen, said condensing lens means being slidably mounted on the support means, and adjusting means carried by the support means for adjustably moving the condensing lens means for focusing the light rays onto the specimen.

BERNHARDT GEORGE GALLASCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 621,196 Zirngibl Mar. 14, 1899 1,500,030 Ott July 1, 1924 1,690,677 Guthrie Nov. 6, 1928 1,788,712 Foster Jan. 13, 1931 1,807,613 Bauersfeld et a1. June 1931 1,862,031 Patterson June 7, 1932 1,958,280 Patterson et al. May 8, 1934 2,003,387 Ott June 4, 1935 2,048,440 Fassin July 21, 1936 2,096,325 Heine Oct. 19, 1937 2,144,653 Graft Jan. 24, 1939 2,365,594 Roeder Dec. 19, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 392,077 Great Britain May 11, 1933 

